RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Acquired rights	Dec. 31, 2010 Acquired rights	Dec. 15, 2011 Alfa Group	Dec. 31, 2011 Alfa Group	Dec. 31, 2010 Alfa Group	Dec. 31, 2009 Alfa Group	Jun. 01, 2011 Alfa Group	Dec. 15, 2011 Alfa Bank	Dec. 31, 2010 Alfa Bank	Dec. 31, 2009 Alfa Bank	Dec. 31, 2011 Alfa Bank	Dec. 31, 2011 Alfa Bank Minimum M	Dec. 31, 2010 Alfa Bank Minimum M	Dec. 31, 2011 Alfa Bank Maximum M	Dec. 31, 2010 Alfa Bank Maximum M	Dec. 31, 2011 Telcrest	Dec. 31, 2011 Modern Times Group MTG AB	Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiary of Modern Times Group MTG AB Y	Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiary of Modern Times Group MTG AB Programming rights	Dec. 31, 2010 Subsidiary of Modern Times Group MTG AB Programming rights	Dec. 31, 2009 Subsidiary of Modern Times Group MTG AB Programming rights	Dec. 31, 2010 Subsidiary of Modern Times Group MTG AB Acquired rights	Dec. 31, 2009 Subsidiary of Modern Times Group MTG AB Acquired rights	Dec. 31, 2009 Entities in which the former senior executive and former member of the Board of Directors has interest	Dec. 31, 2009 Entities in which the former senior executive and former member of the Board of Directors has interest Programming rights	Dec. 31, 2009 Entities in which the former senior executive and former member of the Board of Directors has interest Acquired rights	Dec. 31, 2010 Members of management	Dec. 31, 2010 Members of management Acquired rights	Dec. 31, 2009 Members of management Acquired rights
RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Percentage interest of entity's common stock sold														25.15%
Cash balances																$ 21,655		$ 4,861
Maturity of deposits (in months)																			3	3	6	6
Deposits with Alfa Banks	117,233				117,233	117,457										28,668		8,894
Interest accrued															1,629	1,497	1,434
Commissions for banking services															109	256	453
Payment of commissions for banking services															1,095	262	443
Dividend paid	34,610	34,606	34,599	25,115	128,930	80,444					6,328												26,102	49,207
Advertisement revenue from related parties					1,393	2,219	4,033			1,393		2,219	2,698												94						1,335
Advertising revenue realized in cash										1,550		2,619	4,088
Programming sold					15,836	37,931	20,999																			265	104	381				3,021
Accounts receivable																										89	29
Programming purchased								554,310	487,947																				458	484			803		2,345	782
Cash payment to acquire programming rights					358,621	250,488	209,321																										424
Accounts payable																													460						135
Term of exclusive agreement signed to distribute the international version of the CTC channel (in years)																									5
Fixed assets and advertising services purchased																																		$ 264